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Low relative permittivity plastic elliptical lenses in combination with integrated focal plane arrays are a promising solution to be used in the future mm- and sub-mm-wave systems. Their appeal lies in the availability of materials with moderate loss and lightweight, and the possibility to use cost-effective manufacturing techniques. However, the achievable scanning angular range is relatively small with low permittivity lenses. In this article, we explore the use of dielectric gratings with modulated height integrated in the lens material, with the aim of enlarging the steering angle. The dielectric gratings synthesize a tilted feed pattern, reducing the reflection loss and spillover when illuminating the lens off-focus. A quasi-analytic approach based on the Floquet mode analysis of the gratings is used to synthesize the grating profile. This method is combined with an analysis in reception of the lens antenna. A wideband prototype in $G$ -band (140–220 GHz) has been fabricated, achieving a field of view of ±25° with gain >30 dBi. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article proposes an innovative method for extending the scan range of phased arrays based on Rotman lens by a factor two. The main objective is to take advantage of the performance of the Rotman lens as beamforming network, resolving its intrinsic increase of phase error and coupling losses when wide scan angles are required. The proposed concept aims to overcome these limitations by introducing the combination of two specific operations called “complete beam shifting (CBS)” and “beam mirroring (BM).” The described technique is applied to a 24 GHz scanning array antenna system, designed and manufactured by taking into consideration fabrication and related cost issues. Finally, the proposed concept has been validated through measurements. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]